ATP: QUARTER FINALS AT THE JAPAN OPEN, PART 1

We’ve got eight excited quarter-finalists at the ATP 500 Japan Open in Tokyo. With only two seeded players left in the draw, the title is anyone’s to win. Alex Michelsen, the qualifier from the States, will square off with Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic. The Briton Jack Draper will face Ugo Humbert from France.

TOMAS MACHAC VS ALEX MICHELSEN

Two of the most interesting young players on the ATP tour will play each other in the first quarter-final of the day session at the Japan Open in Tokyo. They have played once before on the ATP tour, in the QF at the Geneva Open this spring. Machac won the match that was played on outdoor clay in straight sets. The circumstances are different now. The 20-year-old Michelsen got the better of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening round of the event. Michelsen went on to beat O’Connell in straight sets in the second round. Alex is ranked at the 49th position in the world. He has won 25 and lost 24 matches on the ATP tour in 2024. The kid from California has reached two finals this season (Winston-Salem & Newport) and four QFs. He is very solid considering his young age.

BIG WINS FOR MACHAC AT THE JAPAN OPEN THIS WEEK!

Tomas Machac started the season very well but then he fell off a bit and is now looking to finish the year in the best way possible. He is currently ranked at the 34th spot in the world. Machac is 23 years of age and has won 24 and lost 18 matches on the ATP tour in 2024. He got to the round of 16 at the US Open recently. Tomas reached the final in Geneva (lost to Ruud) and the QF at the ATP 1000 Masters in Miami. Machac has two nice wins so far at the Japan Open in Tokyo. In the first round, he defeated Popyrin and Tommy Paul in the second round.

UGO HUMBERT VS JACK DRAPER

Ugo Humbert has only lost eight games in the two matches he has played so far at the Japan Open in Tokyo. His serve has been great so far and it is one of his most feared and dangerous weapons on the court. Humbert began his campaign at the Japan Open in Tokyo by defeating Mochizuki and then went on to win against the American Brandon Nakashima in two sets. Ugo, 26 years of age, is currently ranked at the 19th spot in the world and he has won 29 and lost 20 matches in the ATP tour in 2024. Humbert has two titles to his name this season: Winston-Salem and Marseille, both of them on the ATP 250 level.

DRAPER LOOKING FOR HIS SECOND ATP TITLE OF 2024!

The British left-hander has had a great year with a big breakthrough at the US Open just recently. Draper reached the semi-final and lost to Jannik Sinner. That was his best result ever at a major and will be a good foundation to build on for the remainder of the season. The title Jack Draper won this season was at the Stuttgart Open (ATP 250) on grass. Jack is ranked at the 19th spot, and he has won 31 and lost 20 matches in the 2024 season. The 22-year-old has not lost a set yet at the Japan Open in Tokyo. In the first round, he got the better of Bellucci and he defeated Hurkacz in the second round.